“Crossing Breydon Water to and from Great Yarmouth”

The information given in this website is provided with the best of intentions and to help you enjoy your Norfolk Broads boating holiday. Information given is for guide purposes only. Individuals must at all times use their own initiative whilst boating /cruising on the Norfolk Broads. I accept no responsibility for damage to boating craft or to any other form of material property and accept no responsibility for personal or third party injury that may occur in relationship to information provided in this mynorfolkbroadsboating.co.uk website nor any website that it may provide a link to. I am not a qualified Skipper or Health & Safety officer therefore Life Jacket usage and Health & Safety advice/information should be obtained from a Boat Yard Official, the Skippers Manual or other equivalent literature provided with the hire craft.

General Information

Breydon Water is approximately 4 ½ miles across and maybe 3/4 of a mile wide in places. This stretch of water must be crossed to travel between the Southern Broads and Northern Broads. If you do not cross Breydon at the correct time there can be very strong currents approaching and passing through Great Yarmouth. In addition Yarmouth has 2 bridges with very limited clearance at high water (6ft 9in variable). The height/air draft of the boat is normally on a plaque by the dashboard and should also be noted in the Skippers hand book.

The rise and fall of water at Yarmouth can sometimes exceed 6 ft. Keep well clear of the river banks as they are very shallow onto mud near low water.

With some forward planning the passage across should be no problem but you will need to plan your journeys in advance to get not only safely across but also for your return journey

The recommended time to arrive at Yarmouth.

It is important to arrive/pass through Yarmouth at the correct time which is low water slack approx 1 ¼ hours after low water. If this is not achievable it is advisable to try and keep within 1 hour before low water and 2 hours after. Outside this 3 hour window the current noticeably increases in strength and the clearance through the two bridges will be decreasing. Strong currents can make it difficult to control the direction of the boat, especially on a large craft going through Breydon bridge and turning at the yellow post to enter the bottle neck of the River Bure. The boat can tend to drift sideways rather like a broadside in a car.

Their is also a high water slack but the clearance under the two Yarmouth bridges may be insufficient. Even if this was not the case it wouldn’t be ideal as you would be travelling against the current for the duration of your onward journey. In addition should craft crossing Breydon Water from the Southern Broads find the Yarmouth bridges clearance insufficient the boat would have to be turned around for a return journey back across Breydon Water. This is extremely important should it be anywhere nearing sunset. Cruising in the dark is not permitted. Holiday cruisers have no navigation lights and Breydon Water really is the last place on The Broads that you want to be in the dark.

If three vertical red lights are lit and showing on Breydon Bridge, and the Yarmouth Acle Road Bridge do not continue through. I must say that I personally have never experienced this happening.

The times provided on tide tables can be affected by weather so you may wish to check with Broads Authority Staff Tel: 01493 842794.

With a little planning the journey across Breydon Water and through Great Yarmouth should be straightforward and you will probably wonder what all the fuss was about.

If you are unlucky with the timing of the tides it may not be practical to cover both ends of the Broads however there are plenty of places to visit either end of the Broads so you could select a boat from a boatyard that is in a location of your choosing and remain on that particular side of Breydon Water for the duration of your holiday.

Crossing Breydon Water.

Although the widest part of the Broads it is essential to keep between the red posts and the green posts. Most green posts have white tips. Outside this area it is very shallow. Journey time obviously depends on your speed maybe 40 min's to 1 hour. This is the only place on the Broads with no speed limit. On occasions it can be choppy, reducing your speed should make the journey more comfortable.

The closest moorings to Yarmouth on The Northern Broads are Acle and Stokesby, both of which have pubs. Closer still is Stracey wind pump. You will find travel times on the "Distance Chart" page.

Mooring at Yarmouth

If you are on The Northern Broads intending to moor up at Yarmouth and go no further you will not be so restricted by the tides as you will not need to pass under the two bridges. If you time your arrival for between low water slack and high water slack mooring up should be no problem.

Arriving after low water slack will mean cruising against the current which may impact your journey time and fuel consumption but as you need to moor up against the current you should be able to moor up in your direction of travel without the need to turn the boat around and run the risk of the current taking you toward the bridges.

As the rise and fall of the water at Yarmouth is very significant it would be a good idea to seek the advice of the yacht station staff when it comes to tying the ropes.

You could ring the yacht station in advance to check the availability of moorings and advise the staff of your ETA. I'm sure they will be happy to help you to moor up taking the ropes from you and tying up. Tel: 01493 842794

through Yarmouth

keep well clear of the river banks. They are very shallow onto mud at low water.

Travelling towards the Southern Broads you could arrive early, moor up at Yarmouth Yacht Station and wait until it is safe to continue. You can view the bridge clearance gauges and depart when there is sufficient clearance.

I find travelling towards The Southern Broads less challenging as you will enter the wider expanse of Breydon Water allowing more room to manoeuvre.

The Broads Authority list Yarmouth Vauxhall Bridge as having 3" less clearance than Acle Road bridge. The gauge boards are all set for the lowest point on Vauxhall Bridge.

Lower Canopy and Windscreen.

If the hire craft has a raised cockpit it is advisable to lower the canopy and windscreen before reaching the the Yacht Station so that you are prepared for the two low bridges that follow.

Leaving The River Bure.

Just after Yarmouth Yacht Station are the two bridges and they are close together. Only proceed if you have sufficient clearance. Keep to the right but keep between the red arrows.

Heading onto Breydon Water.

After passing through the two Yarmouth bridges. Continue a short distance and turn Right after the yellow post leaving room for any craft that may be coming from the opposite direction.

Yellow Post

It is imperative that you pass the yellow post before turning right or you will almost certainly run aground.

Breydon Bridge.

Has three spans within the navigation posts. Take the right hand span keeping centre of the red arrows. Take care not to wander outside the posts. Aside near slack water times the current can be strong when passing through.

Crossing Breydon Water:

Although the widest part of the Broads it is essential to keep between the red posts and the green posts as outside this area it is very shallow. Most of the green posts have white tips.

Travelling North to South Keep the red posts to port/left and the green posts to starboard/right. As stated most of the green posts have white tips.

Journey time obviously depends on your speed maybe 40 min's to 1 hour. This is the only place on the Broads with no speed limit. On occasions it can be choppy, reducing your speed will make the journey more comfortable.

Leaving Breydon Water:

Keep travelling until you reach the Oulton/Beccles and Reedham/Norwich sign post as detailed on the drawing/map. Turn to your desired direction. Do not venture outside of the posts and do not turn till you have actually reached the sign.

Staffed 8.00am - 8.00pm during the summer season. Unattended and no mooring allowed from the second week in November until the first Friday before Easter (opens on the Saturday) . Some boatyards may restrict travel toward and through Yarmouth during this period. If this could be an issue it may be best to check with the boatyard before booking.

Present Mooring Fees 2016: £5 Day time and £12 Overnight until 10.00am the next morning. (Prices subject to change)

Providing you and all of your party remain on board the boat there is no charge for mooring whilst waiting for the river level to drop sufficiently to allow passage through the bridges.

Water is included in mooring fee otherwise a £2 charge will be made.

Electric charging points/shore power. (Chargeable)

Toilets and Showers (Showers Chargeable)

Rubbish disposal.

It is approximately a 15 minute walk to the main shops and Supermarkets and a ½ hour walk through the town centre to the beach. There are a couple of pubs in the immediate vicinity.

Moorings:

The closest moorings to Breydon water on the Southern Broads are The Berney Arms Reach on the River Yare and The Fisherman's Inn/Burgh Castle on The River Waveney. The river level rise and fall may be similar to Yarmouth approx 3 ft to 5ft so leave enough slack or you could find the ropes too tight to undo or worse still the boat hanging by the ropes out of water.

Crossing Breydon Water:

Travelling South to North Keep the green posts to port/left and the red posts to starboard/right. Most of the green posts have white tips.

There is no mooring on Breydon water nor before the two Yarmouth bridges. Yarmouth yacht station is the closest moorings. There are bridge height gauges located on the River Yare and River Waveney just before entering Breydon water but if the tide is flooding/coming in the bridge clearance will have decreased by the time you arrive at Yarmouth.

Lower Canopy and Windscreen.

If the hire craft has a raised cockpit it is advisable to lower the canopy and windscreen before passing through Breydon Bridge so that you are prepared for the two low bridges that follow.

Breydon Bridge.

Has three spans within the navigation posts. Take the right hand span keeping centre of the red arrows. The right hand span is obscured from view until you are quite close to the bridge so keep the centre span in view taking care not to wander outside the posts. Aside near slack water times the current can be strong when passing through.

Entering The River Bure at Yarmouth.

After passing through Breydon Bridge check the bridge level gauge to ensure you have enough clearance to pass under the two Yarmouth bridges. Continue a short distance and turn left after the yellow post leaving room for any craft that may be coming from the opposite direction.

Yellow Post

It is imperative that you pass the yellow post before turning left or you will almost certainly run aground.

In addition keep well clear of the river banks. They are very shallow onto mud near low water.

Yarmouth Railway and Road Bridges.

A short distance after turning into the River Bure the two bridges are close together. Only proceed if you have sufficient clearance. Keep to the right but keep between the red arrows.

Yarmouth and towards The Northern Broads.

The closest moorings to Yarmouth going North is just beyond The Stracey Arms wind pump located on the left hand side of the river approx 9 miles away so bear this in mind if it is anywhere nearing dark. The pub is no longer there but I believe the numerous moorings are still available and as of 2016 there was a charge of £4.50 for mooring overnight.

Yarmouth has a rise and fall of up to 6 ft so you need to take this into consideration when securing the ropes should you decide to stay. If you don’t leave enough slack you could find the ropes too tight to undo or worse still the boat hanging by the ropes out of water. The amount of slack required greatly depends on your arrival time as mooring up at low water will not require as much slack as high water. It’s a safer bet to ask yacht station staff for advice and they will most likely offer to tie the boat for you. I believe they normally patrol the moorings and keep a watchful eye on the boat ropes. Ensure you are mooring up against the current. If you are travelling with the current you will need to go up river to where it widens and and turn the boat around.